Overview
- Biosecurity New Zealand confirms 29 queen hornets to date, with 19 linked to developed nests or nesting evidence, plus workers and multiple nests removed in Glenfield and Birkdale.
- Trapping has been expanded to more than 600 devices across a 5km radius, with property-by-property checks within 200m and over 2,200 sites inspected.
- Electronic tracking equipment sourced from the Netherlands has arrived and will be used under international guidance to follow tagged workers back to nests.
- Scientists and conservationists are calling for a search area of up to around 30km and more field personnel to keep the narrow eradication window open before summer breeding.
- Authorities report more than 4,000 public notifications and have launched a nationwide awareness campaign urging the reporting of suspected sightings.